WAYBACK WEDNESDAY #7: Claire Black Needs a Hug :(

Hey kids!

Sorry about the small absence from columnizing.  With the buildup to Chaos Theory, things kinda got carried away and I wasn’t able to get a good preview or a solid Wayback Wednesday up last week, which is sad, because that was, naturally, going to be the first Scarlett/Wendy/Val encounter, which was every bit as awesome as the one we just had. 

Ah well, we’ll save that one for later now.

Anyways, we’re back, and swinging, set to give you the usual spate of Power X-iness, with a Wayback Wednesday today, a Future Shock Therapy tomorrow, and your March 2015 edition of the Power X ranking sometime this weekend.

So you know who’s had a really crappy week?

Claire Black.

Granted, I don’t think anyone who lost at Chaos Theory came home full of sunshine, rainbows, and lollipops, but you gotta feel a little bit more for Claire, who’s one night downturn has extended into three.  First was her and ‘Fina losing to Dark Fanstasy in a hellacious, hard fought match, that ended KO/TO’s Unity Title Reigns.  They followed that up 48 Hours later by teaming with Ryan Sheffield- and, yup, losing again, taking a nasty, NASTY chair shot to the head.  And less than twenty-four hours later, she lost again, in highly unusual fashion, to Erica Horton in a match that will almost certainly decide who gets put through to face Kate in the Future Shock Finale.

When it rains, man, it fuckin’ pours.

So, tonight, we’re gonna make Claire smile by replaying one of her finest moments.  For months, she was getting harassed by Canadian Supremacist Mileena Savage, and driven absolute bonkers by the dyejob and her worthless husband, who seemed to escape Claire’s wrath at every opportunity.

Until Relentless 2013, that is.

With Dante hanging above the ring in a shark cage, Claire fought Mileena in a flag match for national honors, the ol’ USA vs Canada  rivalry.  And by the end of the contest, the crowd was chanting three letters.

T-K-O.

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As we come back from the opening video for the event, we head back to the ring where we see members of the production team attaching two flags to opposite corners of the ring on separate posts.

Mark: And we’re about to kick things off here at Relentless with a match that has certainly gotten its fair share of attention, not the least of which made Mileena Savage and her boyfriend a hundred grand richer because of an “attack” by Cody Kincaid. Dan, welcome to the booth. We’re about to start off with the first ever flag match in FFW history.

Pollaski: Woo hoo!  USA versus Canada, baby!  Of course, we all know who normally wins this

Cory Kincaid watches as the flags are set into place and waits for the production team to leave the ring before he begins.

Cory: The opening contest for Rebellion is a FLAG match!! The only way to win is by retrieving your country’s flag! There are no pinfalls, no countouts, and no disqualifications!

The Canadian flag appears over the arena screens as the start of the Canadian National Anthem starts to play.

Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!

A loud ripping sound of a record needle scraping rips through the arena as Drag You Down by Finger Eleven blares through the speakers.

Pull me under before I try to drag you down!
Someone has to pull me under before I try and drag you,
Drag you, drag you down!

At that point Mileena Savage finally makes herself known, slowly walking out from the back with a smirk on her face, with her boyfriend Dante Knox at her side. She walks down the ramp waving a big Canadian flag, as the crowd boos her though she just seems to revel in it.  She makes sure to ignore the ugly American crowd, walking to the ring and slowly climbing in, waving the flag all the while.

Once inside she climbs the corner, waving the flag proudly before hopping down and handing it to Dante to take care of as she gets ready.

Cory: Introducing first, she hails from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada! Accompanied by Dante Knox, this is....’THE PRIDE OF CANADA’ MILEENA SAVAGE!

Mark: Mileena Savage has gone out of her way, it would seem, to antagonize the sisters Black, and I refer to Claire and Arabella. And Mileena already had enough of Arabella to last her a lifetime, and now it’s Claire’s turn to mete out some revenge against her.

The fans watch as the camera points upwards as we see the shark cage descending from the ceiling and landing on the floor before security heads towards the ring to try to get Dante to step inside of it.

Pollaski: Be a good boy, Dante.  And get in the cage.  You brought this on yourself.

Mileena joins him on the floor, arguing with the security officials before he begins to storm off. Two of them grab him and shove him into the cage before shutting it back and attaching a padlock to the door. One of them gives the thumbs up sign as it begins to raise into the air.

Mark: It’s a good thing Knox is wearing dark pants, I have a feeling. And tonight, Mileena will have to do this...by herself! Look at him go!

Dante’s cage was raised about fifteen feet over the ring before it stopped moving.

Pollaski: Its only fifteen feet.  I can handle fifteen feet, and Im afraid of heights.  Just watch the gap in the bars!

As Vanilla Radio by The Wildhearts strikes up, Claire Black moves out to the centre of the stage bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet, loosening up a little. Walking along behind her is her agent and manager, Carson Black along with her husband, Joseph. She performs the sign of the cross and kisses the crucifix around her neck before finally she starts to head down to the ring, shadow boxing all the way, snapping off furious combinations, her taped hands moving in a blur. As she reaches the ring she climbs the ring steps and enters between the ropes. She begins to shadow box one more time, practising the 1-2-3-4-4-1 combination before stepping back into her corner, where Joseph waits for her, giving her a big hug and kiss he whispers a few final words of encouragement as she takes the crucifix from around her neck and passes it to him to look after for the duration of the match. Meanwhile Carson watches as she throws a few shadow punches, dodging out of the way just in case she misses.

Cory: And her opponent, she hails from Boston, Massachusetts! Accompanied by Carson Black, please welcome....’TKO’ CLAIRE BLACK!!

Mark: Claire Black has had enough problems with Mileena to last her a lifetime. And for a woman who is looking to get herself back into Television Championship contention, a win here certainly won’t hurt anything! And you just know she is aching to knock Savage out with that right cross.

Pollaski: I think every red blooded American will be hoping for that, dude.

Referee Angela Keanan calls for the bell as both women look across the ring to their country’s respective flags as they hang over the corners. A very strong “USA!” chant begins to rumble through the Barclays Center.

Mark: And the first flag match in FFW history is underway!

The two women looked at one another as Mileena bolted past Claire and immediately began to try to climb the pole to get to her flag. Claire turned around, grabbing her by the waist as she tried to get past her. A pair of forearm shots to the back of her head, Claire shoved her into the corner chest first. She immediately moved in behind her. dropping her head and delivering a few shoulder blocks into her lower back as Mileena tried to turn around to face her. Black dropped to one knee and delivered a kidney punch into Mileena’s body, causing her to yelp in pain as she got out of the corner with Claire rising to her feet and going after her.

Pollaski: Not... A smart idea.  Mileenas lucky she wasnt knocked out in passing.  Remember, climbing for the pole leaves you pretty much defenseless.

Mark: I agree, I think Mileena was hoping for the element of surprise. But you definitely need to incapacitate your opponent before you attempt to go for the flag.

Mileena made it to a neutral corner as Claire was right behind her, spinning her around delivering a knife edge chop across her chest one after another after another. Black grabbed her arm and sent her across to the far corner. Mileena crashed back first, and Claire took off towards her with a running clothesline. But Savage stepped out of the way and Claire crashed chest first into the corner instead. Spinning her around, she nailed her with three successive European uppercuts before taking the top rope in one hand and beginning to unleash a volley of kicks into her body. Claire sunk down to a seated position in the corner as Mileena grabbed the rope and left her feet to drive them into Claire’s chest. She glanced up to Dante with a sympathetic look and then turned to the corner where her flag hung, saluting it before heading towards it.

Pollaski: Uh oh... Now Mileena is in good position to end it!!

Mark: The fans here in this sold out Barclays Center are trying to get Claire back to her feet! Mileena’s made it to the corner where the Maple Leaf awaits!

Savage began to climb the turnbuckles to get to the top as Claire pulled herself up in the corner. She immediately darted across, climbing up behind her and wrapping her arms around her waist as she stood on the second turnbuckle below her. Mileena grabbed onto the pole with both hands before Claire began to drive her head into her back with repeated headbutts. The pain etched on Savage’s face was noticeable as Claire tried to climb up one step more behind. Another headbutt found the mark between her shoulder blades as Claire launched them both off the top with a release belly to back suplex!

Mark: A belly to back off the top! Savage held on as long as she could, but Claire’s head must be as hard as her fists!

Pollaski: Mileena had the right idea, but she was way too slow!!!

Claire held her abdomen as she began to get back to her feet, mounting Mileena’s chest and unloading with blows to her head before she got back to her feet and pointed to the American flag. The fans responded in kind as the brunette closed the gap and headed for her country’s corner. Mileena rolled to her stomach, clutching her back as she got to her feet behind Black. She shouted at Claire to turn around as she launched a roundhouse towards her head. Claire caught it under one arm and Savage countered with an enzugiri to the temple that sent Claire to the mat in a heap! Mileena got back to her feet, climbing the corner briefly before spitting on the American flag as it hung in the corner. And then she dropped back down, moving towards her corner.

Pollaski: Well, thats just disgraceful.  I hope the delay totally costs her.

Mark: Mileena Savage has shown no respect for the country since she arrived, and that was certainly uncalled for. The fans here don’t like it either.

Mileena moves towards the corner with the Canadian flag in place, glancing behind her to see Claire is starting to get back up again. She audibly curses, moving towards the boxer before grabbing her by the hair and then shoving her back into the corner with the flag of the USA hanging. She delivers a pair of back elbows to the side of the head before she ascends the second turnbuckle and begins to fire away with ten unanswered shots to the head. She glances up to her boyfriend hanging above the ring, and blows him a kiss before turning back around as Claire has managed to turn her back to the ring and start to slowly walk backwards out of the corner with Savage on her shoulders. Mileena flails her arms in an attempt to try and grab onto anything before the bottom drops out and she gets driven into the mat with an electric chair!

Mark: Mileena’s back was hammered into the mat with that electric chair, and I’ve never seen Claire hit that move before!

Pollaski: Mileena deserves to lose this match.  She lollygags to the ropes.  She lollygags to spit on the flag.  She lollygags to wave to her boyfriend.  You know what that makes her, Mark?

Mark: Right now, it makes her flat on her back on the mat and Claire Black is crawling towards the Stars and Stripes in the corner!

Pollaski: ...Well thats a wasted Bull Durham reference...

Claire made it back to the flag in the corner with her flag, reaching up and starting to climb up. She manages up to the second turnbuckle before reaching up to the third. She wraps her fingers around the slot holding the flag in place. She begins to try to lift it out as Mileena climbs back to her feet and stumbles to the corner. She ascends the bottom turnbuckle and drives a low blow into Claire’s groin that drops her off the top rope to the mat. The crowd turns on Mileena as she does this before hopping down herself. She moves towards Claire, pulling her up by the arm and unleashing a few kicks into her chest before taking a step back and hitting a standing dropkick that sends her back to the mat. And she immediately heads towards the corner with her country’s flag hanging high in the air.

Mark: With the help of a low blow, Mileena Savage is heading towards the corner where the Maple Leaf is up there waiting for her! Black got her lady parts smashed off that exchange.

Pollaski: Dammit Claire!  Get the fuck up and stop this syrup sucking lemming fucking milk in bag drinking BITCH!!

Mileena got to the top turnbuckle, reaching up for the flag as Claire had gotten back to her feet finally. She glanced around and then took off, hitting the ropes like she was sent into them, causing them to shake under Mileena’s feet and land straddling the top turnbuckle! This brought about a loud groan from the crowd as Mileena’s face told the tale as she sat on the turnbuckle arm.

Pollaski: Ooh.  And we have our first cooter clang of the night!

Mark: We don’t even have to describe that, the look on Mileena’s face says it all! Now Claire is going for it all!

Black saw Mileena topple over off the corner to the mat, still holding her groin as Claire made a beeline for the other corner. She ascended the turnbuckle slowly, finally making it to the top rope as she reached up and grabbed the flag pole to pull it down. The fans roared in approval as she retrieved it from its hook. And as Keanan was about to call for the bell, Savage got back to her feet and speared the referee viciously, sending her rolling out of the ring to the floor!

Pollaski: … Fucking kidding me?

Mark: Claire’s won this match, she’s got the American flag in her hand! But Mileena just sent Keanan to the floor!

Claire hopped down off the apron with the flag in her hand, turning around as Mileena delivered a superkick to her jaw that sent her down like a sack of bricks. She glanced over to see Keanan clutching her ribs on the floor before Savage picked up the American flag with a look of disgust on her face before wiping it against her backside and then climbing back up to replace it where it was.

Pollaski: .,.. This is why pro wrestling needs video review.  We have it in OTHER sports where its considered bad form to attack the ref, so....

Mark: Savage saving her own ass and then using the American flag to wipe it, that’s disgusting!

Mileena looked back to her corner, moving towards it quickly and climbing to the top rope. Claire was still slow to move on the canvas as she looked back to see where she was. She quickly retrieved the Maple Leaf and thrust it into the air! The live crowd was deafening its boos as she hopped down to the canvas with the flag in her hand, seeing Keanan still on the floor and screaming at her to ring the bell.

Mark: Savage took out the referee with that spear, and now she has the Canadian flag....and NOW she wants the referee to call the match!

Pollaski:  Well, if Keanan has a BRAIN, shell remember the last thing she saw being Claire very clearly with the flag.  So this match SHOULD be over... With Claire as the winner!!!

Keanan was on her side on the floor, still holding her ribs in obvious pain as Savage continued to scream at her to get up before trying to signal for another referee to come down. Meanwhile, Claire had gotten back to her feet behind her, bringing her fists up into the fighter’s position.

Mark: Mileena.....oh turn around, Mileena!

With the fans roaring at the sight of the Boston native back to her feet, she began to bounce on her feet. And as Mileena turned around, Claire cocked and unloaded with a devastating right cross to her jaw that sent Savage to the mat like a bag of bowling balls! And the fans erupted!

Mark: WHAT A SHOT!!

Claire immediately doubled back for her corner, jerking the American flag back off the ring post as Keanan had managed to make it to her knees on the floor and call for the bell. And the fans roared!

Pollaski: Never mind.  I like this way better.

Claire thrust the American flag into the air as the fans in the Barclays Center roared in unison.

Cory: The winner of the match.....’TKO’ CLAIRE BLACK!!

Mark: Fighting for her family....and her country, Claire Black has won FFW’s first flag match! And what an exclamation point she put on it too!

Pollaski: Man, she hasnt landed a shot that good since she sent Becky Valentine to the orthodontist.  What a pop!!

Dante was lowered to the floor and unlocked as he went to check on his girlfriend in the ring. As the fans began a “USA!” chant, Claire waved the flag overhead with a smile on her face before we cut backstage. 

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Not gonna lie, that was a FUUUUUUN match to call! 

It wouldn’t be the last time Mileena got stuck in a patriotic themed match.  Just over a month later she’d face Stephanie Sullivan (who wasn’t batshit at the time) in another star-spangled match in Chicago on the Fourth Of July.   She’d lose that one too.

Two years later, she’s still harping on about Canadian Supremacy.

Adorable.

As for Claire, she’d become more of a team wrestler moving forward, with both Sudden Impact and KO/TO, finally coming over the top by capturing the Unity belts with Serafina, and enjoying a nice five month reign.

And while Claire may be bummed out now after a rough few days, there’s always a reminder that there’s brighter days up ahead!